Bridgeville bust yields 1,000 plants

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office deputies and Humboldt County Drug Task Force agents reported finding more than 1,000 marijuana plants growing indoors and outdoors at a Bridgeville property on the 25000 block of State Route 36 after serving a search warrant on Monday.

When the deputies conducted the search, they reported locating a "sophisticated indoor and an outdoor marijuana growing operation," according to a sheriff's office press release.

Many of the outdoor marijuana plants were already flowering. Deputies located 624 marijuana plants ranging from 4 inches to 12 inches in height growing indoors and 590 marijuana plants ranging from 6 inches to 4 feet tall growing outdoors. Deputies also located a loaded rifle, the release states.

The Humboldt County Planning Department and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. determined there was a fire hazard and shut off the electricity.

Authorities contacted Kelly Valentine, 39, and her two teenage children, at the property. Due to jail overcrowding, Valentine was issued a notice to appear in court on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and maintaining a residence for the unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, and was released at the scene.

The release states deputies have identified one more suspect in this case and are seeking a warrant through the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office for his arrest.